Everyone,

Our good friend Barry known to all of us as Bearcat passed away last year and I have just been made aware of this and feel awful about not knowing sooner. He was a dear friend of the team and helped keep this forum from devolving into total chaos for several years, which we really appreciated.

Barry was a super great guy and had been a member of the larger IL-2 and ROF communities for a very long time. I'm really not happy about not knowing this sooner. I thought he was just on a break from simming, which he told he did from time to time. We had many discussions over the years about his love for the Tuskegee airmen, his music and life's ups and downs. I'm bummer he is no longer with us. Rest in Peace and Godspeed Barry. In heaven you can sim and play music all the time my friend!!!

Here is his obituary - https://metropolitanfuneralservice.com/memorial/barry-toney-wells/

Thank you to Wheels for making me aware of this.



Jason

Source: https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/75170-barry-aka-bearcat-has-passed-away/

Sunrise: August 2, 1955
Sunset: August 23, 2020

Barry T. Wells was born on August 2, 1955 to James and Mae Wells in Harlem, NY. Although he was born and raise in NY, he spent a large portion of his youth in Pittsburgh where both of his parent was born and raised. Barry is a United States Navy veteran, having served his country from 1974 to 1977. He then landed a career as a copier technician at Kodak where he worked for over 20 years. Before transferring to Danka (when they bought out Kodak). He eventually landed his current position as a technician for Lexmark, a contractor for the United States Department of Transportation in DC, after relocating to VA in 2001.

Barry was also a musician, playing the bass in churches and several bands, the last of which was Smoketown Road in Northern VA. Playing was his love; it was a skill he picked up in the Navy and honed over the years. Barry was a Godly man and was strong in his faith. He read his Scripture and tried to live his life in a way that was pleasing to God. Anyone who knew Barry, called Toney by his family, knew that he was championed the causes of the voiceless and fought for racial and gender equality.

He loved people (except for really slow drivers and mean spirited and/ or racist folks) and stood on those social platforms as much as often as he could. His sense of what was right and honorable was strong and he lived by it.

He also had a deep love and appreciation for history and was particularly fascinated with WWI, WWII, and most notably, the Tuskegee Airmen. One of his favorite hobbies was flight simulations, where he and a group of other fellow enthusiasts went on flying missions…. On their computer, headsets, foot pedals, and all!!

Barry is survived by his beloved Wife, Allyson Wells; his loving parents, Jake and Mae Wells; his beautiful sisters, Robin Ward, Kimberley Skinner and Tracey Campfield, and their respective spouses and children; his children, who he held dear to his heart, Kevyn Knotts, Kahara Mercer, Jolivette Knotts -Hudson, Jillian Knotts, Leah Bennett, Shelly Dalton, and Emmanuel Knotts, and their respective spouses and children; and his step-children, who he loved like his own, Anthony Brown, Chris March, Yvonne White, Eddie March, Robbie Lee, Krystal Porter, Lloyd (Biscuit) Lee, and Tecla Lee, and their respective spouses and children. Barry’s grandchildren, from all of the kids, totals 19.

Barry is a current member of Living Waters Ministries in Virginia Beach. He will be dearly missed by all!
Personal Service, Peace of Mind, Pleasant Memories